IDAHO – International Day Against Homophobia

Towards an international recognition of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Trans People

“According to an opinion widely held, homosexuality is said to be freer today than ever before. It is present and visible everywhere: in the street, in the newspapers, on television, at the movies. It is even supposedly completely accepted, judging by the recent legislative advances made in many countries for the recognition of same sex couples. Certainly, some work remains necessary in order to eradicate the last vestiges of discrimination. But with changing public opinion, it will only be, according to some people, a matter of time, the time needed for a movement begun many decades earlier to achieve its goals.

“For the slightly more attentive observer, the situation is globally very different. To tell the truth, the 20th century has undoubtedly been the most violently homophobic period of history: deportation to concentration camps under the Nazi regime, Soviet gulags, blackmail and persecution in the United States in the McCarthy era… Obviously, all of that can seem very distant to us now. But quite often living conditions in the world today remain very unfavorable. Homosexuality is discriminated against everywhere: in at least 80 countries, homosexual acts are forbidden by law (Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Bosnia…)